§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what research her Department has conducted into the health effects of prolonged low-level consumption of(a) clenbuterol and (b) other beta-agonists.
§ Mr. SackvilleClenbuterol is not a licensed medicinal product in the United Kingdom and the Department has not conducted any research specifically into the health effects of its prolonged low level consumption. A large number of beta-agonists are licensed for the treatment of asthma on the basis of evidence of quality, efficacy and safety assessed by the licensing authority. A working party of the Committee of Safety of Medicines was set up in May 1991 to review information on the safety of beta-agonists in the treatment of patients with asthma. Its findings were published in the bulletin "Current Problems no. 33" in February 1992, a copy of which is available in the Library. This concluded that beta-agonists are of value in the relief of symptoms of asthma and that the overall benefits of treatment with beta-agonists outweigh the risk of any side effects.